Cooper Tire Europe has agreed a multi-year deal to become sole tyre supplier to the all-new FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy, beginning this season, as the manufacturer further underlines its position as a leader in the production and supply of rallycross tyres.

The agreement will see Cooper take on exclusive tyre supply to the championship for the next three years, as the series takes on a truly international flavour for its inaugural season.

The FIA World Rallycross Championship (World RX) will run alongside the FIA European Rallycross Championship, which will continue as a series in its own right, following a hugely successful season in 2013 under series promoter IMG Motorsport.

Cooper, along with Avon Tyres, is the rallycross tyre of choice for competitors across the world, having supplied tyres to European Rallycross Champions for the past two decades. Cooper’s supremacy is thanks to its unique rallycross tyre composition, which offers unrivalled levels of grip and traction on both tarmac and gravel, to provide the best all-round performance.

IMG spokesman, Martin Anayi, commented: “We’re extremely excited about the inaugural World RX season and we’re thrilled to have Cooper on board for the next three years.“Cooper has a very long and extremely successful history in the rallycross arena and it’s undoubtedly the tyre of choice for the vast majority of competitors. Ultimately, it is a result of these qualities that we’ve selected Cooper as our exclusive tyre supplier for the next three seasons.”

Sarah McRoberts, Marketing Communications Manager for Cooper Tire Europe, added: “Rallycross is a very challenging sport which provides unique challenges. For competitors to tackle the changing surfaces, from tarmac to gravel, they need a tyre which is capable of handling both rough and smooth surfaces. Meeting this unique challenge is something that Cooper excels at and particularly prides itself on.“Rallycross is a sport which is very important to Cooper and our motorsport involvement. We’re committed to developing the very best tyres and providing competitors with an excellent all-round package and that commitment was reinforced when we launched a new wet-weather rallycross tyre last year. We’re very much looking forward to being part of the FIA World Rallycross Championship and this new chapter of rallycross history.”

In addition to World RX, Avon Tyres is also exclusive tyre supplier to the French Rallycross Championship, an agreement which began in 2013 and is to last a further two years.

The 2014 World RX championship will visit 12 venues this season, including the Grand Prix de Trois Rivières in Canada, Argentina, as well as rallycross favourites Lohéac (France) and Lydden Hill (United Kingdom). Of the 12 rounds, five will be European Rallycross Events.The World RX championship will begin at Montalegre, Portugal, over the weekend of May 3-4.